NORTHEAST
Providence’s Unsung Stars: 12 Restaurants That Deserve Michelin Attention
By Eric Barton | Aug. 1, 2025
Figidini
AUTHOR BIO: Eric Barton is editor of The Adventurist and a freelance journalist who has reviewed restaurants for more than two decades. Email him here.
When I was growing up nearby in southern New Hampshire, I knew the city had a reputation for turning out great chefs. I had friends who went off to Johnson & Wales and came back with velouté and mis en place as part of their vocabularies. They talked about the Providence restaurants run by fellow J&W grads, chef-driven places before that phrase was a thing elsewhere.
But until I made it to Providence finally, I wasn’t prepared for just how vibrant and varied it’s become. Providence’s mix of fine dining, global flavors, and old‑school institutions rivals that of cities three times its size.
If Michelin ever dropped a Providence Michelin Guide, these would be the places at the top. For anyone Googling “restaurants near me in Providence” or just looking for the best Providence restaurants, here are the 12 that deserve serious recognition.
Aleppo Sweets
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Youssef and Reem Akhtarini’s Syrian‑inspired café is a love letter to baklava. Whether you pick the orange‑blossom pistachio purses or lady‑finger rolls, every bite is crisp, buttery, and more nuanced than most desserts deserve to be. They even offer kabobs and mezze that hold their own in savoury territory. This is refined sweet and savory hospitality.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Al Forno
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Chef Johanne Killeen’s Al Forno fuses rustic Italian flavors with New England sensibility. Chefs Johanne Killeen and George Germon turned this 1980 institution into a global name, and dishes like wood‑grilled ribeyes and baked pasta live up to the legacy. Few restaurants have aged as gracefully while continuing to innovate.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Dolores
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Chef Maria Meza brings Mixteca‑region Mexican cuisine—think mole poblano and cochinita pibil tacos—to Fox Point with flair and authenticity. Dinner and weekend brunch (with live music on Sundays) feel celebratory but never pretentious. It’s cozy, bold, and deeply rooted in regional tradition.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Dune Brothers
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In the warmer months, this seasonal seafood shack by the water delivers perfectly executed classics—from beef‑fat‑fried fish and chips to chowder and lobster rolls. Sourced from local waters, each order feels like a little New England love letter. Michelin inspectors tend to adore restaurants that reflect the local cuisine, and few places do that better than Dune Brothers.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Figidini
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Downright sleek wood‑fired Neapolitan pizzas and Mediterranean small plates shine at Figidini. The pies are precise, with just‑right crusts and ingredients that don’t overreach. Seasoned starters and simple charm set it apart—Pizza and restraint done right.
What it deserves: Recommended
Gift Horse
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Chef Benjamin Sukle and team turned Providence seafood culture on its head at Gift Horse. Their raw bar is extravagant yet thoughtful—oysters by region, show‑stopping crispy whole fish, inventive SSAM‑style bites and Korean/New England fusion. It’s boldly elegant and exacting.
What it deserves: One Michelin Star
Glou
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A cozy Fox Point wine bar turned fine‑food hideaway, Glou excels at natural wines and seasonal small plates—from cheese boards to olive oil cake. It marries laid‑back ambiance with thoughtful flavor combinations and a genuine sense of craft.
What it deserves: Recommended
Gracie’s
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Providence’s premier tasting‑menu destination since 1998, Gracie’s remains as refined as ever. Chef Matthew Varga’s rooftop‑garden‑driven cuisine shines in multi‑course menus featuring items like foie gras with grape preserve or monkfish stew. Romantic, polished, and deeply considered.
What it deserves: Two Michelin Stars
Jahunger
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This little gem serving Uyghur cuisine is a revelation—hand‑pulled noodles in Sichuan‑pepper sauce, garlicky chicken stew with potatoes and peppers, all done with precision and warmth. A rare culinary education that surprises with its clarity and spice.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Los Andes
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Peruvian‑Bolivian flavor gets dressed up with fine-dining-level plating at Los Andes. Chef Cesin Curi serves ceviche clásico, lomo saltado, lobster paella and festive pisco sours in a space vibrant with plants and guitar music. It’s a tropical escape in the heart of Providence that consistently delivers punchy, clean flavors.
What it deserves: Recommended
New Rivers
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Seasonal, bold, and thoughtful New American fare defines this small‑plates hot spot. Squash carpaccio, basil‑roasted chicken, duck‑fat fries, pork chops with griddled apples—it all looks too pretty to eat, then tastes so good you’ll be tempted to order a second round of everything already on the table.
